How long does a civil ceremony take?

Hi Judith

The ceremony usually takes around 30 minutes, but it depends what you want and what is to be included eg. a reading or a poem. Do you want special rituals like a sand ceremony or hand fasting, any cultural inclusions? You can discuss this with your celebrant. 

A ceremony can be as long as an hour or as short as 15 minutes, it is up to you as a couple what you want.

Fifteen minutes is a little short and if you choose that path then I hope you will not be dissappointed later in life.

talk to each other and decide what sort of service you want and that will determine the lenght

Hello Judith,

A Civil Ceremony can be as long or as short as you would like. I find that most of the ceremonies I conduct are about 30 minutes but if you only wanted the legal requirements then it would be all of 10 minutes. Hope you have a wonderful day.

Hi Judith, not surprisingly, this is a question often asked by couples as they try to set their running sheet and manage timings around their different suppliers. Generally a ceremony could take up to 30 minutes, depending on inclusions such as readings and/or rituals. If you are working in conjunction with an event planner or venue they are very supportive and experienced in guiding you through your day - from beginning to end.

Enjoy the planning process with your celebrant.

Usually around 20 minutes. As the Ceremony, is designed around your wishes, we work with you in the planning of the style and timing, that fits your dreams.

I would certainly be pleased to talk to you re planning, a professional, happy, and interesting ceremony that will be remember for a lifetime. Janet Prance 0413864110

A civil marriage ceremony can be as short or as long as you, in consult with your celebrant, want it to be. I suggest, up to 30 minutes. To date, I haven't had any feedback that one of my ceremonies has bored guests ... quite the opposite! Providing that your ceremony includes all legal components, it can be as you wish. The inclusion of readings, rituals, stories adds time, but can also add to making your ceremony even more special for you and your guests. I urge you to take the time, with your celebrant, to craft your ceremony, exactly as you wish, taking special care in writing your personal vows. It's those beautiful words which you will especially reflect on during your marriage. Happy planning, Judith! Kylee Payne Celebrant, Perth, WA

Hi Judith, As a guide a civil ceremony can take between 15 mins to 30 mins, depending on what is included in the ceremony. This is something you can discuss with your celebrant when preparing your ceremony. It won't be boring to your guests as they have come here to see you get married and to watch the ceremony and to enjoy it. Hope you find this helpful, regards Sharen Pelly.

Hi Judith As a celebrant I usually suggest to couples that they allow a full hour for the ceremony, depending on what they choose to include of course and even though the spoken parts may only take 15-30mins on average. This time-frame allows the bride to arrive a few minutes late and have photos taken at the venue, while the celebrant gathers everyone in a pre-ceremony announcement, including the groom and groomsmen and advises guests to silence mobile phones (etc) and prepare for the Bridal party to arrive. The Bride then walks down the aisle to music and the actual speaking part follows, lasting usually 15-25minutes, then there is 8-10 mins provided for the signing of legal documents/music/photos, a further 5 minutes for the couple to be formally introduced to guests, closing words and any post-ceremony announcement re what will happen after the ceremony (eg. group photo before family photos, reception details etc. Then the couple walk back down the aisle and approx 15-20 minutes allows for guests to congratulate them and be a part of group photos etc before heading away to have photos taken prior to the reception. This time-frame builds in a few minutes contingency too. ie. If one hour is provided for and the ceremony takes a little less time, there is more time for photos etc. I hope this is useful information but feel free to contact me if you have further questions. Regards - Gina Callan, Civil Marriage Celebrant, Licensed to Wed (ACT) Tel: 041 046 5414

Hello Judith P.

To answer your question, in my experience, the average time for a civil ceremony is between 20 - 30 minutes depending on your content and if you will be having any rituals or readings. Any longer then your guests may loose concentration and you certainly don't want that. At the end of the day, it's your wedding so it should be as long or as short as you want it to be. Hope this information helps and may I take this opportunity to wish you a wonderful and memorable wedding day and every happiness for the future.

Louise Spedding Celebrant - Northern Beaches - 0414 571 674

Hi Judith. I see you have received many answers to your question. Yes, it does depend on the type of ceremony you choose, so will range from 15 minutes and up to 40 minutes if you choose to have readings and other special ceremonies. It is unusual to go over 40-45 minutes. Cheers Trish 0417 354 737